# TV series that should have been short-run or mini-series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856 "2008-11-15T13:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/1 "2008-11-15T13:23:05Z")
Inspired by this thread - > **[Is it time for North American Network TV to adopt the British series concept?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=492897)** > > By that should we simply have shows with built in short runs (6 to 13 episodes) That may or may not be one offs. Currently we have shows with interesting premises that’s quality can never survive the demands of long runs. For example had Prison... What US TV series would have been better off a short-run or mini-series? TWIN PEAKS ALIEN NATION LOST HEROES All with follow-up short series or TV-movie sequels as public demand warranted. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/2 "2008-11-15T13:25:17Z")
Freaks and Geeks? Starved? ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/3 "2008-11-15T14:05:35Z")
I bought the first season Terminator: SCC DVD set on a whim, not having seen the show on TV, and felt the season was very much in the vein of short-run/“mini-series” shows… and found the whole thing to be incredibly compelling. I brought it in to work for lunchtime viwing over the course of a couple of weeks, and everyone who watched was smitten… we ended up watching two episodes a day, and a few people came in on days off to keep up. While avoiding spoilers on the second season (I don’t get to watch broadcast TV and am waiting for the season on DVD), I’ve been told that the producers abandoned the strong continuity and character-development with a season-long story arc in favor of more self-contained episodes… which has me incredibly wary. So, I’ll vote Terminator: SCC season 2 (and on if it survives), sight unseen. Mutant X would have been better conceived as a short series, with a large season-long storyline. For a low-budget Tribune-type show, it’s pretty good, but it’s mostly self-contained, with concomitant lack of character development and other intangibles that hooks you into the “universe.” All a shame considering that the Marvel mutant comics from which they crib are continuity-crazy and driven by character development (or were when I read 'em). ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/4 "2008-11-15T17:22:32Z")
:smack: SHOULD, not “shoule”! Can I haz a Mod fix pleeze? ---
**Author:** ![uncle\_squeegee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b5e925/32.png) [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/5 "2008-11-15T19:33:15Z")
I second the vote for _Twin Peaks_ and add _Prison Break_. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/6 "2008-11-15T23:03:38Z")
I also agree on the inclusion of “Twin Peaks.” Once they got beyond the “who killed Laura Palmer?” story, a fatal case of “now what?” set in. It was almost like they didn’t expect the series to last as long as it did. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-that-should-have-been-short-run-or-mini-series/472856/7 "2008-11-16T07:03:28Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > Mutant X would have been better conceived as a short series, with a large season-long storyline. For a low-budget Tribune-type show, it’s pretty good, but it’s mostly self-contained, with concomitant lack of character development and other intangibles that hooks you into the “universe.” All a shame considering that the Marvel mutant comics from which they crib are continuity-crazy and driven by character development (or were when I read 'em). Holy dear God, I thought I was the only one who ever watched this show. :eek: I totally agree! I’ll add _24_, especially now that it’s getting ridiculously long and convoluted and Jack is all but superhuman. How much further can you take this guy?